Miller’s Lady Rebels aim to rebound from NIT loss

Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

Avenging a 23-point loss last year is far down on Regina Miller's list of tasks to accomplish in the UNLV women's basketball team's home opener against Southern Utah tonight at 7:35 at the Thomas & Mack.

The Lady Rebels are coming off a 77-56 loss to then-No. 14 UC Santa Barbara in the opening round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. With eight new players, Miller said she is more concerned with her squad learning a new system and continuing to improve than exacting revenge.

"This is a good, challenging game for us to come back off our game in the NIT," Miller said. "We have had a week now to prepare and I think that has been important for our young team to continue to work on the things that we're looking to execute this year."

The Thunderbirds, who beat the Lady Rebels 80-57 last fall in Cedar City, Utah, opened their season last Friday with a nine-point win over Air Force.

"I know Southern Utah has a couple of returning players in the post spot and we need to do a good job of rebounding the ball," Miller said. "They're also very aggressive on the offensive rebound end of the court, so this will be a good test for us."

The Lady Rebels (0-1) are led by sophomore Linda Frohlich, who averaged 23.5 points a game as the Western Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Year last season.

Frohlich was limited to seven points in the loss to Santa Barbara, but got into foul trouble early and never was a factor.

With Frohlich on the bench for much of the game, Miller was able to work in some of her new players and said she was pleased with what she saw.

"It's going to take this team some time, for the new kids to learn the system and the returners to get to know them and for everything to come together," Miller said. "When it comes together, it's going to be awesome.

"We just happen not to be there yet, but we certainly won't be the same team in March. We know the value of hard work and we know that it will pay off."